How is the Phoenix market?

[g m]

Hi,

I'm a newly minted massage therapist in New England who's moving to Phoenix next month. I have my local license and NCTMB and I'm wondering what the market is like out west.

Around here (Boston area) MT's tend to charge around $70/hour and are quite busy. The more experienced and highly trained therapists are charging $80, $90, or even upwards of $100/hour.

I checked the Cortiva listings for Phoenix. Several chiropractors and spas are hiring at $12 or $15/hour. Wow--that sounds more like what unskilled laborers make, not highly trained therapists. I had no idea massage therapists were working for that kind of money anywhere, even in a relatively low cost of living kind of place like Arizona.

Anyway, this is just a part time thing for me right now; I'm going to school full time. I was hoping to pick up some part time work but $15/hour is almost not worth it after taxes, supplies, marketing etc. Oh another question--can you work out of your home in Phoenix? Thanks for any advice!

-bp

 

[hits4singles]

Keep in mind several factors

The desert is lousy with geriatrics. The fixed income crowd are heavy users of chiros and pt, but tend not to have the disposable income for outcalls or studio visits. The cost of living in PHX is considerably lower than Boston.

Phoenix is also a tremendously seasonal market. The capacity is there to serve the great influx of bodies 6 months out of the year.

So what do all those MTs do in the off season? Work for peanuts, starve or live off what they saved over the winter.

Chiros and PTs offer stability in a seasonal market. Some folks are not cut out for the cash flow rollercoaster.

Also, if you are working in such a situatioin, you won't have marketing costs and very likely could be an employee or have other costs absorbed by the clinic.

Miami is a similar story.

 

[Betty Spaghetti]

I am in the Phoenix area. If you are going to work for a salon, chiro, ME, day spa; plan on earning between $10-$30 per hour plus tips. Chiropractors here seem to pay their MT's embarrassing low wages. It upsets me. I have a private practice in the Sun City area. Summers are usually very slow for me. However, this year I have been very busy, seeing up to 18 clients a week. I am hoping and expecting August to slow down a little. As a lot of my clients leave town during the hottest & most humid month of the year. I specialize in deep tissue and trigger point work. I charge $70 an hour for isolated trigger point work, and $65 for a deep tissue full body. Hope I can be of some help.

http://integrity.iwantamassage.com

 

[Chalise N]

I live in the central Phoenix area, and I guess I"m one of the lucky ones who landed a decent paying Chiro job-$20/hr. I also work for a chair massage company one day a week that also pays $20/hr. These jobs give me steady income and help me pay the bills when my mobile business is slow (like now).

There are some good chiros out there that pay but they are few and far between. Check into PT's too. As for working at the spas/salons I don't think you are going to make much above $10/hr. But like others said the cost of living here is probably less than Boston, however we are much more spread out so depending on where you end up living you could be paying a lot in gas. So, no matter how cheap it is don't move to Queen Creek, Goodyear, or Surprise unless you plan on working in that area too, or drive a Prius

As I've stated before, it seems Phoenix has 2 slow seasons throughout the year: in the summer and during the holidays. Most private practice therapists seem to charge in the $55-$70 an hour range but I'd say $60 is pretty average. Unless you have been doing it a long time, in which I know people charging $90/hr.

Good luck, let us know if you have any other questions!

 

[Shaun R]

Thanks for all the replies! It sounds like employees are at the lower end of the pay scale, while private therapists charge more of a professional fee.

Does anyone know what the rules are for practicing out of your house? In Massachusetts it varies from town to town--prohibited in my town although I know of at least one person who does it, but perhaps he got his house zoned as dual-purpose since he's on a major street.

I was also wondering--what's the Vegas market like? Not that I'm planning to move there but just out of curiosity. I have heard that parking attendants and food servers can make six figure incomes there so you have to assume M.T.'s are going to do well too.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hi there

I am also in the Phoenix area. I can tell you that the laws do not allow you to practice from your home, from what I know. Although there are alot of therapists that do, it is risky in my opinion.

Phoenix is very seasonal and slow in the spa industry from May through August. I just had to quit a job I was working in Scottsdale for that reason. I was averaging minimum wage doing 1 massage per 8 hour shift.

I also do chair massage making $40/hour plus tips but the work is not steady. My advice would be to plan on having a fall back job when you first move here, as it will take awhile to build clientele. In my experience, and others I know as well, the only real way to make a good living as a therapist is working for yourself. Hope that helps

 

[nu mummy]

Hi there

I just had to quit a job I was working in Scottsdale for that reason. I was averaging minimum wage doing 1 massage per 8 hour shift.

Ouch... that's gotta hurt.

 

[Lovinghope]

I know in the city of Phoenix it is illegal to work out of your home. This varies from city to city of course. Not sure on the ones that allow it...maybe Goodyear? You will have to check wherever you end up living.

My suggestion is to try and network with other therapists as much as you can...here is a good start. I know I always have friends who are scheming up plans for events and are in need of other therapists. That might help supplement your income.

 

[badboyeee]

I believe it against the law to work out of your home in the entire state, but this doesn't stop many people from doing it. It is legal to do outcalls and therapists will charge from 60.00 and up for these.

Most massage clinic or gyms will do a 50/50 split with you, so you will end up with at least 25.00 plus tips. In a couple of months, the busy season will start, so you will have a chance to build up your clientele.

When you get here, try taking a class a one of the local massage schools. Most of them have job placements available, and they can help you.

Let us know how things are going.

 

[in_lovebaby13]

I'm in Surprise, in a health club. I pay rent, do my own laundry, provide my own sheets, and lotions and I come out with approx. $40 per hour after expenses.

Just have to find the right fit for you.